Puzzle



July 16, 1940. Y J. D. BOYLE 2,207,778

PUZZLE Filed Aug. 50, 1939 (JOHN D. BOYLE INVENTOR BY AT RNEY Patented July 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The invention herein disclosed relates to puzzles of the take-apart type. I

Objects of the invention are to provide an :1 attractive form of puzzle, presenting an inter 5' esting problem as to separation of the same into its unit parts and which can be produced at low cost in readily available materials.

Further objects and the novel features of the invention will appear. as the specification proceeds.

The drawing accompanying and forming part of the specification illustrates one of the practical commercial embodiments of the invention. The'structure, however, may be modified and changed as regards this disclosure, all within the true intent and broad scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

. Figure 1 is a front elevation of one of the puzzles.

Figure 2'is an edge view of the same. v

Figure 3 is a front View illustrating the actio of releasing parts.

Figure 4. is a side or edge view of the intermediate member for holding the parts together.

In the particular form of the invention illustrated the puzzle consists of three circular disk- ,like' blocks 5, 6, I, an intermediateholder or tie consisting in each instance of two convergent bores 14 entered through the side of each block and having closed inner ends l5 limiting inward travel of the tumblers.

In the present disclosure, tumbler II, as indicated in Figure 1-, is shorter than the other two, tumbler I is shorter than tumbler 9 and the latter has a notch l6 in the side of the same at one end and which, when in register with the end of tumbler ill, will permit the latter sufiicient travel, Figure 3, to clear the end of short tumbler l I.

By rotative twisting movements of disk 6 on tumbler 9 the latter may be worked around to a position where notch IS in the end of the same will register with the end of plunger Ill. By rocking the puzzle as a whole the plunger I0 may then be tumbled into notch l6. By continuation of such rocking movements plunger ll may then be tumbled the full distance into its bore [4 in disk 1/ When this relation of the parts is attained, as indicated in Figure 3, disk may be twisted on plunger 9 to carry the bore M, in which the end of the short plunger is seated, clear of that plunger, thus to unlock disk 5 from the position in which it is ordinarily held by retainer 8.

The parts can be reassembled and locked by reverse operations.

As an added feature of interest, a coin, good luck symbol or other article 11 may be seated in a slot l8 in the edge of one of the members normally opposed to a portion 49 of the retainer, so that said coin or other element will not be released until the disk carrying the same is released from the retainer, or to an extent such as that indicated in Figure 3, where the retainer no longer closes the end of the slot.

One or a number of such coins or emblems may be seated in the puzzle, secured in such relation so long as the puzzle remains intact'or in the locked state. Such retained element or elements may be seated in the retainer, to be released only' when uncovered by removal of one or more of the disk elements.

In'the present illustration, the retainer is in the form of athree armed stamping of sheet material, which arms are perforated and twisted from the general flat plane of the central portion so as to bring the arms carrying the openings l2 substantially at right angles to the axes of the three tumblers.

The several parts of the device may be made of wood, plastic, metal or other materials and may be colored and ornamented in various ways. The number and shape ofthe parts may vary. Thus,

the block numbers may be spherical instead of flat circular form or they may be of various angular'shapes. The retainer in the form shown is in the nature of an intermediate connecting.

frame or spider and may be so considered.

What is claimed is:

1. A take-apart puzzle, comprising a number of block members, a retainer having portions interposed between said block members, tumblers slidingly seated in said block members, said block members and retainer having registering passages in which saidtumblers are operable, the passages in each block member intersecting to enable the end of a tumbler in one such passage to block the movement of a tumbler in the adjoining intersecting passage and one of the tumblers being of a length and having movement when unblocked by an adjoining tumbler sufficient to release one of the block members.

2. A take-apart puzzle, comprising a number {of block members, a retainer having portions interposed between said block members, tumblers slidingly seated in said block members, said block members and retainer having registering passages in which said tumblers are operable, the passages in each block member intersecting to enable the end of a tumbler in one such passage to block the movement of a tumbler in the adjoining intersecting passage and one of the tumblers being of a length and having movement when unblocked by an adjoining tumbler sufiicient to release one of the block members, said tumbler being shorter than the other tumblers and one of said other tumblers being rotatable and having a notch in one side of the same which by rotation of said tumbler can be opposed to the end of the adjoining tumbler.

3. A take-apart puzzle, comprising a number of block members, a retainer having portions interposed between said block members, tumblers slidingly seated in said block members, said block members and retainer having registering pas-.

sages in which said tumblers are operable, the passages in each block member intersecting to enable the end of a tumbler in one such passage to block the movement of a tumbler in the adjoining intersecting passage and one of the tumblers being of a length and having movement when unblocked by an adjoining tumbler sufiicient to release one of the block members, said retainer being in the form of a frame having arms-extending between adjoining block members and said arms having the passages therein for tumblers extending between adjacent block members.

4. A triangular take-apart puzzle, comprising three disks having convergent passages extending in through the sides of the same and registering end to end with the disks disposed in triangular relation, a triangular retainer having arms extending between adjacent disks with openings therethrough in line with said registering passages and tumblers in said passages extending through said openings, said tumblers being disposed to block and to release the ends of adjoining tumblers and one of said tumblers having a possible endwise movement sufiicient to release the disk normally held thereby.

5. A take-apart puzzle, comprising a number of block members, a retainer having portions interposed between said block members, tumblers slidingly seated in said block members, said block members and retainer having registering passages in which said tumblers are operable, the

passages in each block member intersecting to enable the end of a tumbler in one such passage to block the movement of a tumbler in the adjoining intersecting passage and one of the tumblers being of a length and having movement when unblocked by an adjoining tumbler surficient to release one of the block members and a member releasably held between one of said block members and retainer.

6. A take-apart puzzle, comprising a number of block members, a retainer having portions interposed between said block members, tumblers slidingly seated in said block members, said block' members and retainer having registering passages in which said tumblers are operable, the

to block the movement of a tumbler in the adjoining intersecting passage and one of the tumblers being of a length and having movement when unblocked by an adjoining tumbler sufficient to release one of the block members, one of said block members having an open slot opposed to a portion of the retainer and a loose member releasably held in said slot by said retainer,

7. A take-apart puzzle, comprising a retainer having angularly related arms provided with openings therethrough, separable elements disposed in the angles between said arms and having passages registering with, said openings in the retainer arms, said passages meetingconver gently in said elements and sliding pin tumblers disposed in said passages and extending through said openings in the retainer arms, said tumblers being of a length for the inner ends of adjoining tumblers in the intersecting passages to cooperate passages in each block member intersecting to enable the end of a tumbler in one such passage as stops in certain positions of the tumblers and one tumbler being reduced to permit tumbler movement sufficient for release of one of the elements. 1 8. A take-apart puzzle, comprising a retainer having angularly related armsprovided ,with openings therethrough, separable elements disposed in the angles between said armsand having passages registering with said openings-in the retainer arms, said passages meeting convergently in said elements and sliding pin tumblers disposed in said passages and extending through said-openings in the retainer arms, said tumblers being of a length for the inner ends of ads joining tumblers in the intersecting passages to cooperate as stops in certain positions of the tumblers and one tumbler being reduced to permit tumbler movement suflicient for release of one of the elements and the reduction of said. tumbler being'provided by a notch in the sideat one end of the tumbler.

JOHN D. BOYLE. 

